I've been trying to learn on a 16m2 in 10 - 15 knot California conditions. I've been getting body draged around, hindenburged in low winds and pulled over my board in high winds.

I stepped down to a 12m2 in the same conditions and it made all the difference. Though sometimes underpowered, I've been getting longer rides and am starting to go upwind now. I'm dropping my kite a lot less as well.

I know this is probably basic for most of you but I just wanted to share my two cents with newbies like myself.

I'd rather be slightly underpowered than slightly overpowered and use a bigger board... especially in gusty conditions. That way I find I get injured less, have more fun, and don't have to drop my kite every time the wind picks up beyong my level. That way you get better faster as you have more constructive time on the water.

Hindenburgs (or death drops as I call them) are a real pain in the rear, especially when it's light and you know it's gonna be a fight to reluanch again. When the beach is crowded it can be a major issue in light flukey breezes so I tend to scrap the inflatable idea alltogether and use a ram air kite or in my case a C Quad when the conditions are like this (ie mid summer crowds when the sea breeze hasn't kicked in).

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